Scrooge' on trial in West Rutland

WEST RUTLAND - Vermont Actors' Repertory Theatre presents the festive comedy "The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge" by Mark Brown on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday AND Saturday, DeC. 9-12, 7:30 p.m. at the West Rutland Town Hall Theater, Main Street, West Rutland.

After four years of staging Dickens' A Christmas Carol, the Company decided to present this wonderful new comic rendition of what may have happened a year later, in 1844.

First produced in 2004 by the Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival, the play is a comedic trial, Ebenezer Scrooge, back to his old ways, is suing Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future for multiple offences.

The West Rutland theater company welcomes director Glenn Tarbell of Middletown Springs; he has directed for Mill River Union High School's "Stage 40."

Cast in the show are Bill Cruikshank as Ebenezer Scrooge, Tom Smith as Solomon Rothschild (the defense attorney), Robin Chesnut-Tangerman as Bob Crachit and Jacob Marley, Michael Austin as Judge Stanchfield R. Pearson, Emily Lyons as Mrs. Crachit, Sara Wainwright, Mrs. Dilber and a Translator, Paul Burroughs as Fred and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Judi Tompkins as Fan, Belle and the Ghost of Christmas Present, and Gary Boyles as Mr. Connolly, the Bailiff.

The play is stage managed by Chris Billings and Jeff McFarren is technical director. The lighting design is by David Lane, properties design is by Ruthellen Weston, costume design is by Judy Wideawake, Diane Mott, Bobbie Tortensen & Nancy Ellery, make up and hairstyles are by Judi Tompkins, graphic design is by Grove Illustration & Design: Marna Grove and the producers are Ilene Blackman, Sandra Gartner & Peter Marsh.

Reservations are available by calling the Paramount Community Box Office at 802-775-1736. Tickets will be sold at the door nights of performance. Tickets are $18 for general admission. There will be a student ticket price of $8 starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9, for all students.

For more information about Vermont Actors' Repertory Theatre visit the company's website at www.actorsrepvt.org.